Ashford’s 1936 Odeon: public consultation on the restoration designs — Ashford Borough Council

Ashford’s former Odeon was built in 1936 to a design by Andrew Mather, the architect behind many of the circuit’s cinemas of the decade. It ended its life as a Mecca Bingo hall and has stood empty since 2018. Ashford Borough Council now owns the building and wants it back in use as an arts centre, with the Art Deco frontage on the High Street restored.

The new designs, published in September 2026, show a flexible performance space for 176 seated or 212 standing, a foyer with a café and bar and an informal workspace, a gallery for exhibitions, and the first-floor ballroom restored and available for hire, with room for about 185 people. The council says the scheme was reworked after earlier rounds of consultation: the studio theatre gained capacity, the backstage area was improved, and the High Street entrance and box office were made more accessible. The budget reported locally is 7.5 million pounds.

The plans go on public view for one day before a planning application is submitted. Anyone in Ashford with a memory of the cinema, or an opinion on what the town centre needs, can see the drawings and talk to the project team. If the application is approved, the council expects to select an operator for the venue in early 2027.

Practical details

• When: Friday 18 September 2026, 10am to 4pm
• Where: County Square shopping centre, Ashford, Kent, England
• What: drop-in public consultation on the restoration designs for the former Odeon
• Cost: free, no booking
• Project page: ashford.gov.uk/odeon

Cultural Heritage Online lists this consultation for readers in Kent who care about the town’s 1930s cinema and want a say in its next chapter.